Circular-knitting machine.



Nn. 669,647. Patented Mar.' l2, |90I'.

- S. J. KUTZ.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

. (Application filed Dec. 21, 1900.:

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

Patented Mar. l2, |90I. S. J. KUTZ.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application lcd Dec. .91, 1900.

' 2 Sheets-Smet 2.

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NITE STATES ATENT Fries.

i 4SYLVESTER J. KUTZ, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA.

CIRCULAR-KNI'IUTING MACHINE.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 669,647, dated March 12, 1901.

Application led December 21, 1900. Serial No, 40,622. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom. t may concern:

Be it known that I, SYLvEsTER J. KUTZ, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Reading, in the county of Berks and State-of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circular-Knitting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to circular-knitting machines, such as are commonly used for knitting hosiery and the like.

It consists, mainly,in certain improvements, first in the mechanism for operating the switch-cams for raising and lowering the halfback needles for the heel and toe forming; second, in improved mechanism for lowering the end needles successively in the narrowing operation, and, third, in improved mechanism for clamping and releasing the adjustable needle-cylinder.

The invention is fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features are particularly pointed out in the claims.

Figure l is a sectional elevation of a portion of a knittingmachine embodying my improvements, the section being taken mainly in the line a: of Fig. 2, with a portion only of the needle-cylinder and of the cam arrangement indicated. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the cam-cylinder with the cam-operating attachments thereto; and Fig. 3 is a partial plan view of the frame or bed, showing the needlecylinder-clamping device. Fig. 4 is an eXterior view ofthe cam-cylinder, showing the cam-operating mechanism in elevation, the cylinder being developed into a flat surface to more clearly show the construction. Figs. 5 and 6 are similarly-developed interior views, respectively, of the portion of the cam-cylinder provided with the throwing-down and throwing-up cams and of the portion provided with the switch-cams for raising or lowering the half-back needles. Figs. 7 and 8 are separate views of the throwing-down cam mechanism, Fig. 7 being a section of the line y y of Fig. 4c, and Fig. 8 a plan view. Fig. 9 is a separate cross-sectional view of the switchcam mechanism, taken on the line e .e of Fig. 4. Fig. lO is a separate view of the needle- Clamping device.

The general construction of the machine indicated in the drawings in connection with my improvements is common in circular-knitting machines, as is also the general operation of the same, so that an extended description of the same is unnecessary.

The frame l of the machine is supported in any suitable manner and carries the rotary cam-cylinder l0 and the relatively fixed needle-cylinder 90 within the cam-cylinder. The latter is rotatable by means of a gear-wheel 50, meshing therewith and fixed to an operating-shaft 5l.

The needle-cylinder 90 is adj ustably fixed to the frame l, as hereinafter described, and is provided with the usual circular series of needles 91, guided in vertical exteriorgrooves, and the cam-cylinder 10 is provided on its inner surface, inclosing the needle-cylinder, with a series of fixed cams arranged to coperate with suitable movable cams to form ways or races adapted to engage the heels 92 of the needles and impart vertical movement to the latter, as required. These cams and their relative arrangement are most clearly indicated in Fig. 5. The race ll is formed, as usual, by the xed upper cams 13 and I3, the fixed lower cam 12, the pivoted guard-cams 14E and 14 at either entrance, and the looselyswingingintermediatecam15. 16andl7represent the switch-cams, designed, when alternately thrown into operative position, to raise or lower the half-back needles, respectively, prior to and subsequent to the heel or toe forming, the lowering switch-cam 17 being shown in operative position in Fig. 6, while the cam 16 is shown withdrawn to inoperative position. 30 and 30 are the throwing-down cams for the end half-back needles, and l 60 are the throwing-up cams for the same. The purpose and effect of these cams are well known in the art, and my improvements relate merely to the manner of mounting and operating the movable switch-cams 16 and 17 and throwingdown cams 30 80, which mechanisms I will now proceed to describe.

Referring to the switch-cam mechanism, (indicated in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 6, and 9,) it will be seen that this consists, mainly, as heretofore, of separate movable cam-plates 16 and 17, either of which may be set into the needle- IOO path so as to engage the long heels 92 of the half-back needles and in theorie case (cam 16) raise them in a body out of service and in the other case (cam 17) lower them all into their regular course, the cams being arranged to stand in oppositely-inclined positions to effectthese reverse movements. As shown, each cam is provided with arms 18, by means of which it is pivoted at 19 to an exterior bracket 20, fixed to the cam-cylinder. A spring 21 is arranged to normally retract each cam, both of which during the ordinary operation of the machine in circular knitting are in withdrawn position when the operating-lever 22 for throwing either one or other into action is in mid-position. This lever is pivoted at 23 to the bracket 24 and is adapted to move a slide 25 either to right or left, as reqired, to operate either cam 17 or cam 16, this being effected through the medium of one or other of the similar bell-cranks 26 26, pivoted to said bracket and having one arm 27 in contact with an outward projection 28, Fig. 9, on the cam-plate 16 or 17 and another arm 29 in the path of the slide 25, the outward swing of each bell-crank beinglimited by said arm 29 thereon coming in contact with the side of the bracket.

The throwing-up cams 60 60 may be operated in any well-known way; but as shown each is freely hung, so as tonormally fall by its own weight into the path of the lowered half-back needles.

Referring particularly to Figs. 4 and 7, it will be seen that the throwing-down cam 30 is fixed to a horizontal shaft- 31, which is rotatably mounted in bearing-arms 32 32 of a rocking frame 33, which latter is pivoted at 34 to a bracket. 35, fixed to the exterior Wall of the cam-cylinder 10. The shaft 31 is provided with a spring 36, which tends to return the cam 30 toits normal position, determined by the stop-arm 37, fixed to the outer end of said shaft and adapted to contact with a projection 38 on the frame 33, said spring, however, permitting the shaft 31 and its connected cam 30 to turn sufficiently to allow the top of the latter to be depressed below its normal position in the path of the raised half-back needles by rearward contact of the latter therewith, as indicated by arrow d, Fig. 5. When, however, the end needle of the raised series strikes against the hooked face 39 of the cam 30, as indicated by arrow b, said cam is prevented from turning in the frame 33 by the stop-arm 37 and is swung downward by the rocking outward of the whole frame on the bracket-pivots 34, as indicated by the dotted lines, Fig. 7, thus lowering the end needle or needles engaged by the hooked end 39 of the cam into the course indicated by the curved extension of arrowvb, Fig. 5, while the remainder of the raised needles continue in the course indicated by arrow a, as already explained. It will be understood, of course, that the same action is repeated on the opposite end needle of the raised series upon a Y operation.

reverse movement of the cam-cylinder, which latteris reciprocated as usual during the narrowing and widening operations instead of being continuously rotated. In each case as soon vas the lowered end needle or needles are released from the cam 30 by passing under it lthe cam-carrying frame 33 is swung inward again on the pivot 34 by the action otra spring 40, so as to be ready to repeat the lowering It will be understood that these cams 30 are not required during the ordinary circular knitting, and itis therefore necessary to provide mechanism for holding them ont of service during such operation and for throwing them inonly when needed. This mechanism, indicated in Figs. 2 and 4, consists of two similar levers 41 41, one for each cam 30, each of which levers is pivoted intermediately of its length at 42 to the camcylinder and has one end 43 arranged to bear upon the rocking frame 33 and the other end loosely engaged by an operating-lever 44, pivoted in a bracket 45 on the cam-cylinder, said lever 44 having its inner end extending under the overlapping ends of the levers 4l. When the outer end of said operating-lever 44 is raised, the end 43 of each lever 41 is also raised, so as to allow the rocking frame 33 to swing inward and s0 place the cam 30 in position for service, while a reverse movement of level' 44 swings the frame outward, thus holding the cam out of service.

In Figs. 1, 3, and 10 is indicated my improved mechanism for clamping the needlecylinder 90 to the frame or bed l. lThis consists, mainly, in the vertically-movable rocking device 70, the shank 71 of which passes downward through a vertical hole 72 therefor at the periphery of the cylindrical frame-wall 2, which the lower portion of the needle-cylinder 90 loosely fits, while the one-sided wedge-shaped head 73 thereof descends into a correspondingly-tapered recess 74, the effect of which upon the device when the latter is forced downward into said tapered recess is to turn the on e-sided head 73 inward against the needle-cylinder 90, and thereby clamp the latter against the frame-wall 2. The required movements of the device 70 to clamp or release the needle-cylinder is effected, as shown, by passing the shank 71 of the former through a spring-box 75, xed to the bottom of the frame 1 and provided with an inclined lower face 76 and a coiled spring 77 therein surrounding the shank 70 and having its upper end fixed thereto and its lower end fixed to said box. Upon the projecting lower end of the shank 71 is loosely carried a lever 79, having a hub 80, with au inclined upper face bearing against the inclined lower face of the box. The spring 77 normally raises the device 70 and puts a transverse strain thereon tending to turn the wedge-shaped head 73 outward, so as to leave the needle-cylinder 40 free, so that it may be readily inserted or removed; but by turning the lever 79 said device is forced downward, thus 'lowering its lOO Wedge-shaped head in the wedge-shaped recess 74, and thereby turning the head inward against the wall of the needle-cylinder and firmly clamping the latter to the frame. Any convenient means may be provided to conveniently vary the height of the needle-cylinder in the frame.

What I claim is- 1. In a knitting-machine the combination with the cam-cylinder of the oppositely-inclined switch-cams independently pivoted eX- teriorly to said cam-cylinder and adapted to swing in and out through the wall of said cylinder, an exterior bracket on said cylinder between said cams, a laterally-movable slidebar guided in said bracket, and intermediate mechanism operated by said slide-bar to move one or other of said cams, substantially as setforth.

2. In a knitting-machine the combination with the cam-cylinder of the oppositely-inclined switch-camsindependently pivoted eX- teriorly to said cam-cylinder and adapted to swing in and out through the wall of said cylinder, a bracket between said cams, a laterally-movable slide-bar guided in said bracket, and bell-cranks pivoted to opposite sides of said bracket each with its outer arm in the path of said slide-bar and its inner arm in engagement with one of said cams, substantially as set forth.

3. In a knitting-machine the combination with the cam-cylinder of the throwing-down camseach having a li mited rocking movement on its shaft-axis and mounted in a pivoted frame arranged to swing in a plane substantially at right angles to the plane of said rocking movement substantially as set forth.

et. In a knitting-machine the combination with the cam-cylinder of the throwing-down cams, the rocking shaft for each of said cams, the pivoted frame in which each of said shafts is mounted, springs and stops controlling the rocking movement of said shaft, and a spring arranged to normally swing the pivoted frame inward, substantially as set forth.

5. In a knitting-machine the combination with the cam-cylinder of the throwing-down cams, the rocking shaft for each of said cams, the pivoted frame in which each of said shafts is mounted, springs and stops controlling the rocking movement of said shaft, a spring to normally swing the pivoted frameinward, and mechanism to positively retract and hold the same substantially as set forth.

6. In a knitting-machine the combination with the hollowed frame or bed and the needle-cylinder removably located therein, of a clamping device having a shank or shaft passing downward through said frame adjacent to the periphery of the needle-cylinder and a wedge-shaped head adapted to a corresponding recess in said frame, a fixed spring-box through which said shaft passes, a lever below said boX to depress the clamping device and thereby clamp the needle-cylinder, and a spring to normally retract the clamping device, substantially as set forth.

7. In a knitting-machine the combination with the hollowed frame or bed and the needle-cylinder removably located therein, of a clamping device having a shank or shaft passing downward through said frame adjacent to the periphery of the needle-cylinder and a one-sided wedge-shaped head adapted to a corresponding recess in said frame, a fixed spring-box through which said shaft passes, a lever below said box to depress the clamping device, and a spring in said box adapted to normally raise and turn said device to free the same from contact with the needle-cylinder, substantially as set forth.

Signed at Reading, Pennsylvania, this 8th day of December, 1900.

SYLVESTER J. KUTZ.

Witnesses:

W. J. STEWART, WOOD G. SCHWARTZ, Jr. 

